Friday, December 31, 2021

THE TOP 71 of 1971

Based on a compilation of year end chart information gathered from all three major music trade publications (Billboard, Cash Box and Record World) along with Joel Whitburn's Record Research 1971 Pop Annual rankings and the book "Ranking The '70's" by Dann Isbell and Bill Carroll (as well as our own research of the weekly 1971 Super Charts), here is OUR final Year-End Chart annotating ....

THE TOP 71 RECORDS OF 1971 

 1 - Joy To The World - Three Dog Night
 2 - It's Too Late - Carole King
 3 - Maggie May - Rod Stewart 
 4 - Knock Three Times - Dawn
 5 - Indian Reservation - Paul Revere and the Raiders
 6 - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - The Bee Gees
 7 - One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
 8 - Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond
 9 - Just My Imagination - The Temptations
10 - Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
11 - Want Ads - Honey Cone
12 - She's A Lady - Tom Jones
13 - Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
14 - You've Got A Friend - James Taylor
15 - Me And Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
16 - Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
17 - What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
18 - Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson Five
19 - Treat Her Like A Lady - Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
20 - Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth
21 - Superstar - The Carpenters
22 - Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
23 - Put Your Hand In The Hand - Ocean
24 - The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down - Joan Baez
25 - Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves - Cher
26 - Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey - Paul McCartney
27 - Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
28 - Theme from "Shaft" - Isaac Hayes
29 - Don't Pull Your Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds
30 - Family Affair - Sly and the Family Stone
31 - Signs - The Five Man Electrical Band
32 - It Don't Come Easy - Ringo Starr
33 - Rainy Days And Mondays - The Carpenters
34 - My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
35 - Draggin' The Line - Tommy James
36 - Yo Yo - The Osmonds
37 - Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted - The Partridge Family
38 - Mama's Pearl - The Jackson Five
39 - Tired Of Being Alone - Al Green
40 - A Brand New Key - Melanie
41 - Have You Seen Her - The Chi-Lites
42 - Do You Know What I Mean - Lee Michaels
43 - For All We Know - The Carpenter
44 - Spanish Harlem - Aretha Franklin
45 - Temptation Eyes - The Grass Roots
46 - Imagine - John Lennon
47 - Lonely Days - The Bee Gees
48 - One Less Bell To Answer - The Fifth Dimension
49 - Mercy Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye
50 - Chick-A-Boom - Daddy Dewdrop
51 - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Aretha Franklin
52 - Sweet And Innocent - Donny Osmond
53 - Amos Moses - Jerry Reed
54 - I've Found Someone Of My Own - Free Movement
55 - I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds
56 - If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
57 - Superstar - Murray Head
58 - Help Me Make It Through The Night - Sammi Smith
59 - Baby I'm-A Want You - Bread
60 - Mr. Bojangles - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 
61 - Black Magic Woman -Santana
62 - Groove Me - King Floyd
63 - If I Were Your Woman - Gladys Knight and the Pips
64 - An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night
65 - Got To Be There - Jackson Five
66 - Whatcha See Is What You Get - The Dramatics
67 - Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
68 - If You Really Love Me - Stevie Wonder
69 - That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be - Carly Simon
70 - Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
71 - Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Turner


And here are The Top Twenty Albums of 1971:

 1 - TAPESTRY - Carole King (how could it NOT be?!?!)
 2 - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - Original Cast
 3 - PEARL - Janis Joplin
 4 - ABRAXAS - Santana
 5 - CLOSE TO YOU - The Carpenters
 6 - THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY ALBUM - The Partridge Family
 7 - SWEET BABY JAMES - James Taylor
 8 - CHICAGO III - Chicago
 9 - ALL THINGS MUST PASS - George Harrison
10 - TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN - Cat Stevens
11 - GREATEST HITS - Sly and the Family Stone
12 - STICKY FINGERS - The Rolling Stones
13 - SANTANA 3 - Santana
14 - EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY - Rod Stewart
15 - LOVE STORY - Soundtrack
16 - IMAGINE - John Lennon
17 - CHAPTER TWO - Roberta Flack
18 - RAM - Paul McCartney
19 - SHAFT - Isaac Hayes / Soundtrack
20 - NATURALLY - Three Dog Night

More here:
https://bestclassicbands.com/number-one-albums-1971-3-14-20/ 
 
And THESE were The Top 40 Fan Favorites as voted on by Forgotten Hits Readers and the listeners of Phil Nee's WRCO "Those Were The Days" radio program (where we counted these down earlier this year):
 
 1 - BROWN SUGAR - The Rolling Stones
 2 - IT'S TOO LATE - Carole King
 3 - L.A. GOODBYE - The Ides Of March
 4 - MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY - B.J. Thomas
 5 - JOY TO THE WORLD - Three Dog Night
 6 - WHAT IS LIFE - George Harrison
 7 - IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN - Gladys Knight and the Pips
 8 - IT DON'T COME EASY - Ringo Starr
 9 - LUCKY MAN - Emerson, Lake and Palmer
10 - BELL BOTTOM BLUES - Derek and the Dominoes
11 - I'D LOVE TO CHANGE THE WORLD - Ten Years After
12 - LONELY DAYS - The Bee Gees
13 - ME AND YOU AND A DOG NAMED BOO - Lobo
14 - RIDERS ON THE STORM - The Doors
15 - DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN - Lee Michaels
16 - BLACK MAGIC WOMAN - Santana
17 - MAGGIE MAY - Rod Stewart
18 - BABY, I'M-A WANT YOU - Bread
19 - TEMPTATION EYES - The Grass Roots
20 - WOODSTOCK - Matthews' Southern Comfort
21 - JUST MY IMAGINATION - The Temptations
22 - WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN - Runt
23 - ROLL ON - The New Colony Six
24 - GET IT ON - Chase
25 - SOONER OR LATER - The Grass Roots
26 - FRESH AS A DAISY - Emitt Rhondes
27 - RINGS - Cymarron
28 - WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN - The Who
29 - EIGHTEEN - Alice Cooper
30 - HAVE YOU SEEN HER - The Chi-Lites
31 - DRAGGIN' THE LINE - Tommy James
32 - LET YOUR LOVE GO - Bread
33 - I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE - Rare Earth
34 - AIN'T NO SUNSHINE - Bill Withers
35 - WILD WORLD - Cat Stevens
36 - STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN - Led Zeppelin
37 - INDIAN RESERVATION - Paul Revere and the Raiders
38 - WALK AWAY - The James Gang
39 - IT' A CRYIN' SHAME - Gayle McCormick
40 - TREAT HER LIKE A LADY - Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose

Thursday, December 30, 2021

The Henry Diltz Archives #1 - It's A Runaway Smash!

BRAND NEW for 2022 ...

THE HENRY DILTZ ARCHIVES ...

Running EXCLUSIVELY in FORGOTTEN HITS!!! 

(photos and original journal entries, courtesy of Henry Diltz and Gary Strobl, 

The Keeper of the Castle ... and you won't find 'em ANYWHERE else!!!)


Here's an entry from exactly 44 years ago this week ...

And a New Year's Eve Party pay-off!




Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Top TV Shows and Movies of 1971



  According to the Nielsen Ratings, these were The Top 30 TV Shows of 1971:


 1.       ALL IN THE FAMILY  (CBS)     34.0
 2.       THE FLIP WILSON SHOW  (NBC)     28.2
 3.       MARCUS WELBY, M.D.  (ABC)     27.8
 4.       GUNSMOKE  (CBS)     26.0
 5.       ABC MOVIE OF THE WEEK  (ABC)     25.6
 6.       SANFORD AND SON  (NBC)     25.2
 7.       MANNIX  (CBS)     24.8
 8.       FUNNY FACE  (NBC)     23.9
 9.       ADAM-12  (NBC)     23.9
10.     THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW  (CBS)     23.7
11.      HERE’S LUCY  (CBS)  23.6
12.      HAWAII FIVE-O  (CBS  (23.6)
13.      MEDICAL CENTER  (CBS)     23.5
14.      THE NBC MYSTERY MOVIE  (NBC)  23.2
15.      IRONSIDE  (NBC)     23.0
16.      THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY  (ABC)     22.6
17.       THE F.B.I.  (ABC)     22.4
18.       THE NEW DICK VAN DYKE SHOW  (CBS)     22.2
19.       THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY  (NBC)     22.0
20.       BONANZA  (NBC)     21.9
21.       THE MOD SQUAD  (ABC)  21.5
22.        ROWAN AND MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN  (NBC)     21.4
23.       THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW  (CBS)     21.4
24.       THE DORIS DAY SHOW  (CBS)  21.2
25.       MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL  (ABC)  20.9
26.       THE ABC SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE  (ABC)     20.8
27.       THE SONNY AND CHER COMEDY HOUR  (CBS)     20.2
28.        ROOM 222   (ABC)  20.2
29.       CANNON  (CBS)     19.8
30.       THE CBS FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE  (CBS)     19.5


AT THE MOVIES:
Top Box Office (Gross Receipts)


 1 –  FIDDLER ON THE ROOF  (United Artists)   $40,500,000
 2  -  BILLY JACK  (Warner Brothers)   $32,500,000
 3 –  THE FRENCH CONNECTION   (20th Century Fox)   $26,300,000
 4 –  THE SUMMER OF ’42  (Warner Brothers)     $20,500,000
 5 –  DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER  (United Artists)   $19,727,000
 6 –  DIRTY HARRY  (Warner Brothers)  $18,000,000
 7 –  A CLOCKWORK ORANGE  (Warner Brothers)   $17,000,000
 8 –  CARNAL KNOWLEDGE  (Embassy Pictures)  $14,075,000
 9 –  THE LAST PICTURE SHOW  (Columbia Pictures)   $13,110,000
10 – WILLARD  (Cinerama Releasing Corporation)  $9,300,000

Academy Award Winners:
Best Film:  The French Connection




Best Director:  William Friedkin (The French Connection)



Best Actor:  Gene Hackman  (The French Connection)




Best Actress:  Jane Fonda  (Klute)




Best Supporting Actor:  Ben Johnson  (The Last Picture Show)



Best Supporting Actress:  Cloris Leachman  (The Last Picture Show)
Best Screenplay, Original:  Paddy Chayefsky  (The Hospital)
Best Screenplay, Adapted: Ernest Tidyman  (The French Connection)
Best Original Score:  Michel Legrand (Summer of ’42) /
John Williams  (Fiddler On The Roof)
Best Original Song:  Theme from “Shaft”

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Tuesday This And That

It just may be my favorite week of radio all year …

The polls are closed … and the votes have been tabulated …

 

And all week long Rewound Radio will be playing back your 2021 All-Time Favorites (in no particular order, other than the OFFICIAL Top 77 Countdown that kicked off on Sunday, December 26th.)  Actually, they usually count back The Top 100 … but then also play ALL of the other 3000+ titles that received votes and nominations on this year’s ballot.

 

It’s a great week of songs you don’t hear every day … with minimal repeats … and, when it’s all over, they’ll publish the COMPLETE list of songs in ranked order.

 

Frank B sent us this official announcement from Mike Riccio the station …

Hi ... and thanks to all of you who voted for your favorite song(s) in the 24th Annual Top 77.

And starting today, Sunday, at noon, you can hear the results, counted down in order from #77 to #1.

And after that, enjoy this entire holiday week featuring the songs that got votes, the number that they ended up as, and even request the song(s) you voted for to find out how they did.

Yes ...

You can hear the countdown of the Top 77 LIVE and in order on Rewound Radio starting today, December 26th, beginning at 12 noon and then played in random order ALL week long between Christmas and New Year’s.

Here's the link for Rewound Radio ... https://rewoundradio.com/

Also this year, as in the past, you can get a copy of the complete list of over 3000 songs that got votes, where they finished on the survey, plus lots of facts and information about the songs and results. Be listening for Rewound for details.

Sincere thanks again for making this survey so successful for 24 years in a row!

Mike

Now I WILL caution you that “Hey Jude” has come in at #1 in something like 19 or 20 of those 24 years … so maybe this year we’ll finally get a chance to see something else grab the top position …

Of course, I can’t promise you that … but I CAN promise you a GREAT week of listening … so bookmark this page now (if it isn’t already … and, if it ISN’T already, shame on you for denying yourself the chance to listen to the best oldies station in the world!!!)  kk


UPDATE:

Frank B sent us some details once the countdown started ... and yes, "Hey Jude" tops the chart yet again.  (A few surprises on the list ... but not many.  Listening today I did hear a few things out of the ordinary, including Adele placing in The Top 500 with "Rolling In The Deep!"  Thus reiterating Rewound Radio's slogan of "It's Not How Old It Is ... But How GOOD It Is."


kk ...

I'm sitting here listening to REWOUND RADIO TOP 77 COUNTDOWN.

And I'm thinking to myself, "What other project can I give my pal Kent to work on?"

How about a "ONE-WORD TITLE COUNTDOWN????"

I'll help you get started ...

"ONE" 

plus

"WORDS"

Here are The Top 20:

20 - Cherish = Association

19 - Wichita Lineman = Glen Campbell

18 - Hotel California = Eagles

17 - I Want To Hold Your Hand = Beatles

16 - Aquarius - Fifth Dimension

15 - My Girl = Temptations

14 - Stairway To Heaven = Led Zeppelin

13 - Can't Find The Time = Orpheous

12 - Be My Baby = Ronettes

11 - American Pie = Don McLean

10 - Ain't No Mountain High Enough = Diana Ross

9 - In The Still Of The Night = Five Satins --- YEAH!!!

8 - Light My Fire = Doors

7 - Mac Arthur Park = Richard Harris --- SHOCKED ME WITH THIS ONE

6 - Good Vibrations = Beach Boys

5 - Rag Doll = Four Seasons

4 - Bridge Over Troubled Water = Simon & Garfunkel

3 - Satisfaction = Rolling Stones

2 - God Only Knows = Beach Boys

1 - Hey Jude = Beatles

HOT OFF THE PRESSES

Every day this week starting at noon they will be playing countdown songs.

Even if a song got just one vote, they will play it.

AND HERE ARE THE SONGS THAT MADE EVERY COUNTDOWN, 24 YEARS IN A ROW (1998 - 2021)

SHE LOVES YOU / Beatles ( 2021 # 22 )

I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND / Beatles ( 2021 # 17 )

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN / Led Zeppelin ( 2021 # 14 )

AMERICAN PIE / Don McLean ( 2021 # 11 )

IN THE STILL OF THE NITE / Five Satins ( 2021 # 9 )

LIGHT MY FIRE / Doors / ( 2021 # 8 )

GOOD VIBRATIONS / Beach Boys / ( 2021 # 6 )

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER / Simon & Garfunkel / ( 2021 # 4 )

SATISFACTION / Rolling Stones / ( 2021 # 3 )

HEY JUDE / Beatles / ( 2021 # 1 ) --- Made The Countdown 23 out of 24 years. Missed the first year, 1998.

FB

Missed the first year but then finished at #1 for something like 20-21 years in a row.  Not a bad comeback, eh?  (Personally, I say it's time to give something else a turn ... but that's just me.  The fans have spoken.)

By the way, in our own Top 333 Most-Essential Classic Rock Songs Countdown from a year ago, "Hey Jude" finished at #37 ... in fact, it wasn't even the top Beatles song on the countdown ... those distinctions belonged to two George Harrisongs ... "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (#14) and "Here Comes The Sun (#19)  kk

Later this week (Friday to be exact!) we will be running our countdown of The Top 71 Hits of 1971 based on our Super Charts.

In the meantime, here is a countdown (based on sales) of the 20 Biggest Albums of that year … and it’s quite a list!  (How many of these did YOU own at the time???)

Top Selling Albums of 1971: What a Year! | Best Classic Bands

 

Kent -

Wishing you a Happy New Year, my friend.

Here's to great things happening and live shows coming back full force again.

Cheers,

Ron Dante

 

Hi, Kent,

Marti and I thank you for mentioning the upcoming “Pop Stars” excerpts series ... and including it as one of your special features for 2022.  We’ll keep ’em coming your way as we carve out time to prepare them.

The Henry Diltz photos should be terrific. We're glad that he gave you permission to post those.

Sincerely,

Jeff, with regards from Marti

As you both know, I just LOVE your books and have referred to them many times over the years.  This new feature presents the opportunity for other oldies fans to discover them as well … and pick up copies for their own music library.  So I thank YOU for allowing us to share these great interviews with our readers.  (kk)

 

 

>>>It's A Very Big Week In Forgotten Hits As We Bring 2021 To A Close  (kk)

SOUNDS GREAT. YOU DESERVE A RAISE. AT LEAST A COST OF LIVING INCREASE.

Frank B

Amen to that!  Thanks, Frank!  (kk)

 

Love it all! Happy New Year, Kent!

Carol Ross

 

Hi Kent -

Looking Forward to all your Forgotten Hits Highlights for 2022!!

You always do a FANTASTIC job keeping us all informed on the latest and the greatest news.

I agree with your top five Gene Pitney songs. I would only put "She's a Heart Breaker to #2 ... LOL

Bang a Gong and keep Rockin', Kent!

A Great New Year to You and Your Family !!!

Carolyn

The review in David McGrath’s Gene Pitney book is less than flattering when it comes to “She’s A Heartbreaker,” I song that I, too, loved when it was out … and it’s still up there with my Gene Pitney favorites.  (The fact that broke from his own formula is perhaps its greatest appeal!)

Here are some of the comments made in McGrath’s book:

“Worst Gene Pitney hit ever!”

“Pitney, who heard the criticisms of the record from the moment it was released, remembered that his label’s president, Art Talmadge, hated it so much, he initially refused to put Pitney’s name on it.  ‘On the initial pressing of my record,’ Pitney recalled with a laugh, ‘the artist was listed as P.G.’

Pitney goes on to say, “Most of my records aren’t considered collector’s items.  I’ve been told that one, with the P.G. is.”

In his own analysis, McGrath writes:

“Favorite Lyric:  You’re kidding, right?”

“But then concedes that “Gene LOVED this song … and LOVED singing it in concert.  ‘It adds some balance to my show,’ Gene explained.  ‘You know, after this ballad and that sad song, you need something uptempo.  ‘Heartbreaker’ fills the bill.”

My Top Five Gene Pitney Favorites (as disclosed last week):

#1 - A Town Without Pity

#2 - It Hurts To Be In Love

#3 - (I Wanna) Love My Life Away

#4 - She's A Heartbreaker

#5 - Only Love Can Break A Heart


Long-time FH Reader Frank B. and I have been comparing notes as we both read the new Gene Pitney biography by David McGrath.

Frank just sent me this story to share with our readers …

 

I Got This One From Brian Hyland ...

(Don't remember If I Told You About It Before.) 

Brian and Gene Were Always Roommates On Dick Clark Tours.

One City Had A Contest -- Win A Date With Gene Pitney.

Contest Winner Calls The Room and Brian Answers The Phone. 

She Wants To Talk To Gene.

First Question -- Do You Like To Play On The Monkey Bars? 

Of Course, Brian Couldn't Stop Laughing.

Frank B.

 

Earlier this year we told you the story about how Spencer Elden, the baby pictured naked on the Nirvana album cover “Nevermind,” was suing the band for life-long damages (and child pornography!) all these years later.

We dismissed the charges as completely bogus after all this time … and told you how Elden has been profiting and benefiting from being the “Nevermind” baby for decades, posing for new photographs of himself both in the pool and with a great big “Nevermind” tattoo on his chest … and now, at year’s end, the band apparently (and officially) agrees, calling his case “not serious” in a newly issued statement.

According to a statement issued by the band (and published in Billboard Magazine), "Elden has spent three decades profiting from his celebrity as the self-anointed ‘Nirvana Baby.'"   They also cited Elden's Nevermind chest tattoo and his multiple recreations of the album cover in adulthood, and alleged that he "used the connection to try to pick up women." 

Nirvana further note that the statute of limitations for a federal child-pornography lawsuit is ten years from the point that a victim "reasonably discovers" it, which means Elden would have realized the cover was problematic in 2011 (when he was 20 years old). Given the stratospheric success of Nevermind in the '90s, the band claims this is unlikely.  "The Nevermind cover photograph was taken in 1991. It was world-famous by no later than 1992.  Long before 2011, as Elden has pled, Elden knew about the photograph, and knew that he (and not someone else) was the baby in the photograph. He has been fully aware of the facts of both the supposed 'violation' and 'injury' for decades." 

Billboard also notes that Nirvana could be preparing a more thorough response to Elden's suit based on a more fundamental argument: that the Nevermind cover does not constitute child pornography ... 

"Elden's claim that the photograph on the Nevermind album cover is 'child pornography' is, on its face, not serious.  A brief examination of the photograph, or Elden's own conduct (not to mention the photograph's presence in the homes of millions of Americans who, on Elden’s theory, are guilty of felony possession of child pornography) makes that clear."

Ultimate Classic Rock, also covering this story, notes that in October, Dave Grohl admitted he hadn't given the Nevermind lawsuit much thought. "I think that there’s much more to look forward to and much more to life than getting bogged down in those kinds of things,” he said. "And, fortunately, I don’t have to do the paperwork."


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Kent, and all the rest of the FH folk.  

I have heard the Mamas and Papas tune before, but that was only because it came on one of their Greatest Hits packages, I believe.  

The Frank Mills song I have heard on our local radio station back in the day, but it was sung by someone else, in a different key, too. <grin>

I won’t be waiting to hear either one of them again.

Haha!

Bill Scherer

 

Love Me, Love Me Love by Frank Mills got good play here in Wisconsin ... I remember it well.  The song has always reminded me of Daisy A Day by Jud Strunk.  I spoke with Frank Mills by phone in 2007 and I had the chance to ask him about the record that made it to number 8 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in the first part of 1972.   Frank was just out on his own after being in the group the Bells (Stay Awhile) when his solo

record came out.  He would have an instrumental number one seven years later with Music Box Dancer.

Phil Nee



“Music Box Dancer” I know … that song was a MONSTER hit in 1979 … but I’d never heard the track “Love Me, Love Me Love” until we featured it the other day.  (Then again, I never knew Frank Mills was involved with The Bells’ hit “Stay Awhile” … his name isn’t even mentioned in Joel Whitburn’s book.)  kk

 

Phil also tells us …

 

I just taped an interview with Susan Cowsill.  This was the first time that I have had her on the show.   It was so much fun to speak with her. 

Paul Cowsill was on the program about 20 years ago.  The Cowsills do a great version of Wont You Be My Neighbor on the Thank You, Mister Rogers Music & Memories project.   They will be on the Happy Together Tour and Flower Power Cruise in 2022. 

Check out Susan singing 'If You Could Read My Mind' on youtube.  She is among the artists performing songs on the Ladies Sing Lightfoot project.  

If You Could Read My Mind - YouTube

My interview will air on Saturday night, January 1st, on wrco.com

(click on the 100.9 headphones)

Phil

I only met her once - would love to have her participate with FH as I think she’d make a great addition - she’s been on my “to get” list for years!!!  (kk)



She seems to have a great memory.  She was too young at the time of their fame to be taking mind altering things that would have clouded the memory.   Her and I are close to the same age so we have the same memories of watching Friday night tv when the Partridge Family aired along with the Brady Bunch,  Room 222, and Love, American Style.  Of course, the Cowsills sang the theme for season one.  That should have been a hit record.   

Susan's memories are very happy.  She says that not everyone has videos of their favorite childhood moments.  Dean Martin was very nice to her and all of the celebs that they met seemed to treat them well.

Phil

 

OK, here’s another book I’ve got to read …

 

Ringo Starr has published his memoirs and the books will start shipping on Valentine’s Day.  You can get the standard edition for $59 … or a signed, limited edition for $495 (while supplies last)

 

Titled “LIFTED — Images and Memories In My Life with the Beatles From Across The Universe,” the book comes with a beautifully designed hard cover with jacket, many rarely seen images overlaid with captions and quotes by Ringo Starr with help from best-selling author and award-winning TV writer-producer David Wild. In the Forward, Ringo will explain the origin and motivation for the exciting new book. Proceeds from LIFTED, including a Limited-Edition Signed Book, signed by Ringo Starr, will benefit The Lotus Foundation and will be Sold Exclusively Online at Julien’s Auction.


Ringo describes it this way:

I am not writing this book as a Beatle historian … I’m writing this book as a Beatle — and there’s only a couple of us who can do that.  I didn’t keep all these photos. These fantastic images came back to me in recent years from here, there and everywhere — online and off — and have somehow helped me get back to seeing my life with The Fab Four through fresh eyes. A lot of the photos in this book I spotted on my phone and on my computer and “lifted” them because they brought back so many fabulous memories. In recent years, I’d gather these Beatles photos that I sometimes barely remembered. After a while, I thought, how great it would be to “lift” these fantastic photos and some of my other favorites for charity and tell my true tales that they inspire about what the four of us — John, Paul, George and Ringo — went through back in the day. And the best thing is that it’s all for a good cause because the money is going to our Lotus Foundation. 

When people ask me about the Beatles, I often tell them, `You better ask Paul,’ because somehow he seems to remember everything. But along with great projects like Get Back, seeing so many of these amazing Beatles images has really brought back those days to me and all the love and friendship that we four shared back then. So this is a book full of Beatle images that many people haven’t seen and stories that I’m sharing with a little help from my longtime writer friend, David Wild. We’ve all been through a pretty tough time for a lot of people who’ve been locked down, and this book has really lifted my spirits and took me back to where I once belonged in a whole new way. And in the end, that’s why this new book is called Lifted. The Beatles changed my life forever. So it’s about getting back and giving back.

And he’s doing it all for charity …

 

The proceeds of the book will benefit The Lotus Foundation, whose mission funds supports, participates in and promotes charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in diverse areas including, but not limited to substance abuse, cerebral palsy, brain tumors, cancer, battered women and their children, homelessness, and animals in need.

 

You can pre-order your copy now:

$59 standard edition or $495 for the autographed edition: 

Julien's - Catalog Details (juliensauctions.com)

 

ZZ Top is the latest act to sell their “entire music interests.”  With the passing of Dusty Hill last year … and having just celebrated their 50th anniversary together, I guess they figured it was time.  (As pointed out several times this past year, this seems to be the going trend in “cashing in” on your life’s work.)  BMG, who reportedly paid $50 million for their catalog, also made multi-million deals with Tina Turner, Motley Crue and Mick Fleetwood this past year.  (kk)

 

From Tom Cuddy …


Dissecting Phil Spector's 'wall of sound' technique
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/phil-spectors-wall-of-sound-technique/


And let’s not pass up a chance to plug our OWN Phil Spector series once again …

Phil Spector Revolutionized The Way Records Were Made ... (fhphilspector.blogspot.com)

 

And then this, also from Tom … a clip of Berry Gordy being interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning, prior to The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony that aired earlier this past week …  Berry Gordy reflects on career and legacy ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors - YouTube

 

Plus …

 

Engineer Bruce Swedien on the making of Michael Jackson's Thriller: "I went in when Eddie Van Halen was warming up and I left immediately. It was so loud - I would never subject my hearing to that kind of volume level!"
https://www.musicradar.com/news/michael-jackson-thriller-bruce-swedien-quincy-jones-eddie-van-halen

 

Hi, Kent ...

I was reading your item about Martin Scorcese doing a film about Jerry Garcia, and it brought back a vivid, sad memory of the period just prior to Jerry's demise.

July 13th, 1995, was the hottest day on record in the Chicago area, registering 104 F at O'Hare (the official monitoring site) and 106 at Midway.  On that day, I was doing my daily walk, thinking how miserable some people must have felt to be outside (by July 19th, 436 had passed on from the heat, and the number kept climbing, topping 1000).

That same evening, the Dead played a concert at Soldier Field, and I'd felt bad for the poor folks out in that horrible heat. Later, I'd wondered if the temps had anything to do with Garcia's passing, which occurred on August 9th, at a rehab facility.  Sure didn't help him any.  Sad day for us all.

Mike

 

And then …

 

Wow - thanks for sending over that Jerry Garcia article by Harvey Kubernik … gotta make some time to peruse it all.
I may not be the biggest Garcia / Dead fan in the world, but I'd be interested in seeing the film when it comes out.
I wonder if Mr. Kubernik could use the info I sent to you as part of any reference material, for the film or whatever.
I saw the Dead at Alpine Valley in the mid-80s; the place was so clouded with the smell of grass that we could hardly breathe. And the noise at the back, where we were, was so bad that we could hardly hear the show. Of course, we were so stoned that we hard knew that there WAS a show. ;-(
But it was an experience I'll never forget.

And, speaking of the Dead, would you believe the weekly Greatful Dead hour show on WDCB 90.9 at College of DuPage just went on!  ;-)
Mike

 

Paul Mitchell of The Floaters has floated on.  Their cross-over hit “Float On” went all the way to #2 on Billboard’s Pop Single Chart in 1977.  (It was a weird record for sure!  So much so that even Cheech and Chong came up with a parody for it called “Bloat On,” which charted at #41!)  As if the song itself wasn’t already over-the-top enough, check out this live performance that blows away the most commonly circulated clip.  (kk)


 

Me-TV remembers some of television’s losses from this past year …

In Memoriam: Remembering the TV stars we lost in 2021 (metv.com)


I found this in The Times Square Chronicles by G. H. Harding …

https://t2conline.com/the-glorious-corner-280/ 

ONLY IN MY DREAMS AT 35 — Could it really be 35 years since Debbie Gibson’s “Only In My Dreams” ruled the radio roost? Yes, it is and last week, Gibson hosted a Cameo-video event celebrating that fact. From her home base in Las Vegas, she welcomed a host of fans as well as Fred Zarr, who produced the song. Zarr, long removed from the music business was a welcomed presence. He said that originally, he was going to work with two other producers (the legendary M&M team), but when they became unavailable, he got the spot. He said he listened to all her demos and “Dreams” certainly stood out. 

 

Gibson had the original demo and played it and it was surprisingly close to Zarr’s finished product. All things considered, Zarr’s work would mark a decisive moment in pop music, when other artists like Shannon, Tiffany, and Alicia would rule the charts – way before Britney, Taylor and Kelly. The difference with Gibson was the fact that she wrote it. She stills hold the record for the youngest artists ever to have written, performed and produced a #1 record. 

Guitarist Ira Siegal who was on her first album Out Of The Blue, as well as her current album, The Body Remembers, also appeared as did one of her original dancers Buddy Casimano.

I well recall Gibson’s very first gig at the Limelight in NYC eons ago. After her performance, there was never any doubt that she would become a major, major presence in the music scene.

 

Her original PR-man David Salidor was also on hand and submitted this remembrance, “I had heard ‘Dreams’ as a demo in 1985 and was struck by its originality and brilliance. I knew it would be a massive hit. When it came out the following year - and, released twice, though that’s another story - its power was enormous. It established her as a major new artist in the business.”

Great time; great memories. Salidor submitted the attached photo of him and Gibson at the long-gone, much-missed club 4D. The late Chuck Pulin-snapped this. Thanks to Heather Moore for arranging this for us.



We just recently purchased the new Alan Parsons Live Project concert video of the band performing in The Netherlands when word came out this week that ANOTHER brand new concert video will be released in February … this time of the APLP performing live in Tel Aviv, only this time backed by a full orchestra.

 

As one might expect, much of the tracks (and even the exact song line-up) are virtually the same … but Parsons says that this pairing with The Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra affords them the opportunity to perform some songs they don’t typically get to do in a live concert setting. 

 

“We had been booked to play here with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and I thought it might be a great opportunity to record a video of the show.  Whenever I have an opportunity to play with a symphony orchestra, I always try to incorporate songs into the setlist that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to perform live, such as the epic ‘Silence and I’ from the Eye in the Sky album. Tom Brooks, our keyboard player, is also an incredibly talented orchestral arranger. He arranged and conducted all of the orchestral pieces for this particular performance, using former Alan Parsons Project conductor Andrew Powell as inspiration for the scores of some of the other songs included in the show.”

 

The complete track list for the new 2-DVD/Blu-Ray set is:

1.   One Note Symphony*

2.   Damned If I Do*

3.   Don’t Answer Me*

4.   Time*

5.   Breakdown / The Raven*

6.   Miracle*

7.   Luciferama*

8.   Silence And I

9.   I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You*

10.      Don’t Let It Show*

11.      The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

12.      Standing On Higher Ground*

13.      As Lights Fall*

14.      I Can’t Get There From Here*

15.      Prime Time*

16.      Sirius / Eye In The Sky*

17.      Old And Wise*

18.      (The System Of) Dr. Tarr And Professor Fether*

19.      Games People Play*

* - songs common to both DVDs

(Meaning the ONLY new tracks you get “set aside” for orchestral treatment is “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and “Silence And I”)

Speaking of live shows, Billy Joel has announced his plans for 2022 concerts, which will see him step outside of his month residency gigs at Madison Square Garden and venture out for specific gigs at specific venues next year.

The announced dates so far include:

January 14th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
January 28th – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
February 12th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
February 26th – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium
March 12th – Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium
March 24th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
April 8th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
April 23rd – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
May 14th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
June 10th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
June 25th – South Bend, IN – Notre Dame Stadium
July 9th – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park
July 20th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
August 11th – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park
September 23rd – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park

More dates are expected to be announced … but it looks like Billy will be doing about two shows a month and (as of right now anyway) still averaging a show per month at MSG.  (kk)

From our buddy Quent Lang, currently of The Dinosaur Exhibit but putting this one together on his own with Julie Caselli on vocals …

Special thanks to Erin O’Brien and Dave Forte for adding a beautiful graphic and posting my latest song “WHEN THE WAR IS OVER” on YouTube.

If you served in the military, or know friends or family of those affected by extended deployment, feel free to pass it along to them.     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRqLnVaLU_M

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !

Quent Lang

Kent:

THANK YOU so much for featuring both of my music videos (“Sweet Soul” and “Silent Night / Amen”) in your newsletter. 

I want you to know that I very much appreciate all your support of my music.

Thanks again, Kent.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

James

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.

“Sweet Soul” just may be the surprise hit of the year for me - I absolutely love it. You have perfectly captured the feel of the era - I hope some of the jocks on our list have added it to their play lists. It deserves to be heard, savored and enjoyed by all. Curtis and Major Lance would be proud!

kk

Kent:

I can’t get a better endorsement than that!

THANKS, man.

James

I heard about Tom Konard’s passing through your website.  Tom used to send me envelopes full of music surveys from around the country and looking at some of the ones I saved, I noticed that if you didn’t know the radio station, a lot of them do not identify their city. 

I am including one I found of Chuck Buell from 1970, since he contributes to your blog.

Love your site.

Carolyn / Minneapolis



Thanks, Carolyn!

(Boy, if you happen to have a 1972 survey from Vermont in that stash, I SURE would like to get a copy of it!!!)

Chuck’s been great about contributing new bits as well as reminiscing about the good old days at WLS here in Chicago.  He can add this survey to his collection (if he doesn’t already have a copy!)  kk 

New clips coming to The Ed Sullivan YouTube Channel in January include:

Avail 1/2 – Rowan And Martin – Say It Backwards Charades (orig air date 2/7/60)

1/3 – Gary Lewis and the Playboys – Count Me In (3/21/65)

1/5 – The Harlem Globetrotters (2/9/58)

1/7 – Allan Sherman – Return To Camp Granada (4/24/66)

1/9 – Herman’s Hermits – Just A Little Bit Better (6/19/66)

1/10 – Connie Francis – Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You (1/26/62)

1/13 – The Association – Dubuque Blues (11/9/69)

CHRISTMAS LEFTOVERS:

Did you get a chance to listen to this year’s Top 100 Favorite Christmas Songs special with Wink Martindale, written by our FH Buddy Gary Theroux?  Me-TV-FM ran it continuously beginning on Christmas Eve straight thru Christmas Day.

A pleasant surprise was hearing “Morningtown Ride to Christmas, a song they issued in the 2000’s.

Originally a hit (with slightly different lyrics in 1967), this was always a favorite of mine by them.  (It was their follow-up single to the chart-topping “Georgy Girl.”)

This one fared better here in Chicago than it did on the national charts, peaking at #25 (vs. #41 on the national charts)

I always loved this melody.  Give it a listen and see if you remember this one.  (kk)

Billboard’s Hot 100 for Christmas Week shows two dozen vintage Christmas songs in The Top 100 that were originally issued back in the day when vinyl was the only game in town!

As mentioned the other day, Mariah Carey sits at the top of the heap with “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (1994), followed by Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (#2, 1960), “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms (#4, 1957), “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives (#5, 1964), “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” by Andy Williams (#7, 1963) and “Last Christmas” by Wham (#9, 1998) … and that’s just The Top Ten!  (60%)

Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” is up from #14 to #11 this week, The Ronettes are at #13 with “Sleigh Ride” (up from #17 the week before), Nat “King” Cole moves from #20 to #15 with “The Christmas Song” (“Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire”), Dean Martin’s up a notch at #17 with his version of “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” and “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” now sits at #19 for Perry Como.  (That makes 11 of The Top 20!)

Christmas songs also sit at numbers 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 32, 36, 41, 44, 49 and 50 in The Top 50, bringing the total now to 23 out of The Top 50 tunes, or 46% overall.

 

Geoff Lambert’s weekly oldies sheet makes this observation (as you’ve heard some of these songs for the 200th time over the weeks leading up to the holiday) …

 

You might wonder how much cash the writers of the Christmas songs make? According to Spotify, between the 1st of November and December the 28th, 2020 Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree had 138 million Spotify streams with a potential pay-out of $620,000.

Geoff

I thought you and your followers might enjoy this Christmas classic by the one and only STATUS QUO - the great unknown British band in the U.S. but fortunately not over the entire rest of the world.  

Nick Frankart and Alan Benson

 

Thanks, guys!  (Not a bad tune at all!)  Alan has written a nice profile of the band Status Quo, known primarily here in American for their big 1968 hit “Pictures Of Matchstick Men.”  They went on to have, however, a decades-long career in Great Britain that we rarely caught a glimpse of.  (I remember running their version of “Fun Fun Fun” that they did with The Beach Boys several years ago!)  kk


 

And, since we’re talking The Beach Boys, here’s a list of 75 Cool Things About Carl Wilson …

In honor of what would have been his 75th birthday on December 21st …

The Beach Boys

 

And how about these closers from Chuck Buell …



Well, Kent, imagine my surprise when I got this Holiday Present from You!


I get it!  Most people get me something that says "BATTERIES Not included!

THANX!!!

 

Chuck Buell!

 

! ! !

HA!  (lol)

Actually, a pretty clever idea!!  (kk)


CLIP OF THE WEEK (#1):

I’ve never seen this one before … and in crystal-clear quality, too!    

Here are The Nashville Teens (who actually came from about 4200 miles outside the Nashville city limits) doing their big 1964 hit “Tobacco Road.”  (kk)

CLIP OF THE WEEK (#2):

Probably one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on Saturday Night Live …

Thank you to Chuck Buell, who made my Christmas Eve with this one!

 
And, as we reach the new year on Saturday, one more from Chuck Buell ...

From the Forgotten Hits History Museum, Chuck Buell Presents ~~~
Great Moments "In Prophetic Forgotten Hits History!"


CB ( which stands for "Curator Boy!" )


For the record, that's ok with me.  (kk)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!

(Much More Tomorrow ... and all week long ... in Forgotten Hits)